House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Estate: Pests

Sarah Olney: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much has been spent on repairing damage caused by pests on the Estate in each of the last three years.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Parliamentary Estate: Pests

Sarah Olney: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many instances of property damage by pests were reported to parliamentary authorities in each of the last three years.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Parliament: Educational Visits

Grahame Morris: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how often the House of Commons Commission reviews the terms and conditions of the travel subsidy setting out funding available for school trips to Parliament.

Sir Charles Walker: The House Administration wants to enable schoolchildren across the UK to have the opportunity to visit Parliament. It has therefore been actively considering the impact of rising travel costs and revised constituency boundaries on the Education Travel Subsidy.In June 2023, the Finance Committee considered and agreed proposals to increase the subsidy in light of rising travel costs. This was implemented in September 2023, but the Committee asked for additional increases to be considered. A further proposal was brought to the Finance Committee in November 2023 and the Commission in December 2023 to amend some elements of the subsidy and implement further increases. These were agreed and will be applied from April 2024. The changes are expected to increase visit numbers from outside the south-east.The Commission noted in December 2023 that a deep dive review of the Education Travel Subsidy programme would take place in the third quarter of 2024/25 which would take account of constituency boundary changes.The travel subsidy allows eligible state-funded schools to claim between 50 and 75 per cent of travel costs back, subject to maximum claim caps. Constituencies are set into three geographic based bands, A, B or C to determine eligibility. Further information is given on the Parliamentary website: Travel Subsidy - Parliament UK Education. Recent changes to subsidy level are given below.Travel subsidy in 2022Band A: Not eligibleBand B: 50% of receipted travel costs, up to a maximum claim of £800Band C: 75% of receipted travel costs, up to a maximum claim of £1600Travel subsidy as of 1 September 2023Band A: Not eligibleBand B: 50% of receipted travel costs, up to a maximum claim of £1,000Band C: 75% of receipted travel costs, up to a maximum claim of £2,000Travel subsidy changes for 1 April 2024 will be announced to Members in the coming weeks.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Private Rented Housing: Overseas Students

Rachel Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the number of foreign students at universities on the (a) availability and (b) affordability of private rented sector accommodation in England.

Jacob Young: The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Rented Housing: Empty Property

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing councils to acquire long-term empty properties at below-market value for conversion into social housing.

Jacob Young: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 197506 on 12 September 2023. The Government wants to encourage empty homes back into use and to empower local leaders to reinvest in their communities.

Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 10 January 2024 in the Adjournment debate on Inter Faith Network for the UK, Official Report, column 418, when he plans to make a further announcement on the Inter Faith Network.

Simon Hoare: Announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Supported Housing: Rents

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what data on market rents in retirement communities the rent review tribunals proposed in the Renters Reform Bill will use.

Jacob Young: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 9626 on 18 January 2024.

Temporary Accommodation: Children

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made of the number of families with children living in temporary accommodation in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the last three years.

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many families with children were housed in temporary accommodation for more than (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years in (i) Coventry North East constituency, (ii) Coventry, (iii) the West Midlands and (iv) England in each of the last three years.

Felicity Buchan: Statutory homelessness statistics for England are published quarterly. This is data from local authorities and includes families in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter, including for the hon. Member’s local authority area. Data can be found at Statutory homelessness in England: April to June 2023 - GOV.UK. Details of the length of time families with children are housed in temporary accommodation is published annually and can be found at Statutory homelessness in England: financial year 2022-23.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food Banks: Finance

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to provide additional financial support to foodbanks in winter 2023-2024.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has taken steps to work with relevant authorities to support foodbanks in (a) general and (b) Romford constituency.

Mark Spencer: The Government does not have any role in the operation of foodbanks. Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations which bring people in local communities together to support one another. This is a great example of the generosity of spirit of communities across the country.The Government is providing over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England to support the impacts of the increase in cost of living. This funding is supporting charities and community organisations right now through the £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund. This fund is awarding funding to frontline organisations supporting vulnerable households, including those which deliver food.The second strand of the package, the £25.5 million VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, was opened in December 2023. This scheme will support frontline charities, community organisations and social enterprises across England to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.The scheme has two main components:Independent Energy Assessment (IEA): This involves arranging an independent energy assessor to help identify energy-saving opportunities.Capital Grants: Grants can be used to install capital energy efficiency measures, such as improving insulation or installing heat pumps.Organisations can first apply for an Independent Energy Assessment. Having completed the IEA, they can then apply, if they are eligible, for a capital grant between £2,000 and £150,000 to install capital energy measures. Applications for IEAs opened in December 2023 and applications for capital funding will be open through three rounds, starting from the second half of January 2024. All capital projects will need to be completed by March 2025.Taken together, total support over 2022/23-2024/25 to help households with the high cost of living amounts to £104 billion – an average of £3,700 per UK household.

Cattle: Transport

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were refused a cattle passport in each of the last five years.

Mark Spencer: The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. In the time available we are not able to provide information on how many cattle passports were refused in each of the last five years. However, as of 11 January 2024 the number of animals in GB currently alive and issued with a CPP35 – Notice of Registration (Refused Passport) is 13,075.

Cattle: Transport

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were (a) DNA tested and (b) refused a cattle passport in each of the last five years.

Mark Spencer: The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. The total number of DNA appeals received by the Rural Payments Agency is given in the table below. In the time available we are not able to establish the number of cattle and the number of Passports refused following a DNA appeal being unsuccessful.20192020202120222023DNA Appeals Received736590506466479Between 2019 and 2021 the data provided is for GB. From 2021 the data does not include appeals made in Scotland.

Cattle: Transport

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people appealed against decisions made by the Rural Payments Agency on the passporting of cattle in each of the last five years.

Mark Spencer: The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. The total number of appeals made is given in the table below.20192020202120222023Appeals Received87811731044809839Between 2019 and 2021 the data provided is for GB. From 2021 the data does not include appeals made in Scotland.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Feltham and Heston

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) schemes and (b) grants their Department administers that are open for (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency to apply for as of 10 January 2024.

Mark Spencer: The Department does not have a complete data set showing which schemes are definitively open for applications as of 10 January 2024. This is because the opening date for applications of grant schemes is a data field that has only recently been added to the Government Grants Information System. However, from the data set that we currently have, we have listed in the attached document live schemes which have recorded a month to be advertised on ‘Find a Grant’, and those that have not recorded a month to be advertised alongside the reason (where it is recorded).We do not hold centrally data on application criteria so would not be able to answer the second part of the question relating to which grants are available to individuals, organisations and other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency without commissioning further information from delivery teams. This commission would incur disproportionate costs.Live Government Grants  (xlsx, 14.3KB)

Animals: Exports

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of welfare standards for live animals exported from the UK.

Mark Spencer: The Government consulted in England and Wales in 2020 on improvements to animal welfare in transport, including ending live animal exports for slaughter and fattening. The Government is banning export journeys to slaughter through the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which is progressing through Parliament. Exports for purposes such as breeding, will continue to be permitted providing all legislative requirements to protect animal welfare are met. Animals exported for breeding are generally transported in very good conditions and are able to live a full and healthy life once they arrive at the destination country.

Lobsters: Conservation

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding the spiny lobster to the list of protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Rebecca Pow: Consideration of the species to be protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is subject to a quinquennial review process by which Schedule 5 and Schedule 8 (listing protected animals and plants respectively) of the Act are reviewed by the British Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies; as set out under the requirements of Section 24 of that Act. This is the process by which Spiny Lobster would be assessed for addition to Schedule 5 of the Act.

Dangerous Dogs

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing the Calgary model of dog bite prevention.

Mark Spencer: We have no plans at this time to reintroduce a mandatory dog licence, as required in Calgary. The previous dog licence was repealed by the Local Government Act 1988 because it cost more to administer than the revenue it generated. This licencing system was in effect an ownership registration scheme. Now that microchipping is mandatory, this is no longer necessary.

Food: Public Sector

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 6 September 2023 to Question 195904 on Food: Public Sector, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on Public sector food and catering policy.

Mark Spencer: Officials are continuing to finalise the updated Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services and supporting guidance, which will showcase the use of sustainable, high welfare, quality produce in the public sector. We expect to publish the consultation findings, alongside the updated standards and guidance, in the coming months.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 December 2023 to Question 5955 on Agriculture: Flood Control, how many countryside stewardship grants have been awarded to farmers since 5 January 2023.

Mark Spencer: There are currently around 35,000 live Countryside Stewardship agreements. Of these, 8,200 new agreements started in 2023 and 8,600 agreements are starting in 2024. Actions to help with flood control measures are worth around £4.02 million in live agreements.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of empowering the Groceries Code Adjudicator to provide additional protections for farmers who are at risk of unfair practices.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase protections for farmers who sell produce to supermarkets.

Mark Spencer: The Government has already launched a review to increase fairness in the fresh produce supply chain in December 2023, building on what we have already got underway to improve transparency and contracts in the pork and dairy markets and the. Following this, we will analyse the responses and consider the need for providing additional protections for farmers at risk of unfair practices. This review seeks to understand issues relating to fairness in the supply chain across the whole of the UK. If responses indicate there are contractual issues that we believe we should seek to address, the powers in the Agriculture Act apply to the whole of the UK. If regulations are developed, we will engage widely with stakeholders, including the devolved administrations, to ensure that legislation works for all parts of the UK and incorporate special provision for differing circumstances, if necessary. A parliamentary debate is scheduled for 22 January to debate reforming the grocery supply code of practice to better protect farmers where the issues you’ve raised will be discussed.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Bullying and Harassment

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many settlement payments his Department issued following claims of (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) discrimination in the (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21, (iii) 2021-22 and (iv) 2022-23 financial years.

Mark Spencer: There is no record of settlement issued following claims of bullying, harassment or discrimination in the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 or 2022-23 financial years.

Sandeels: North Sea

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect stocks of sand eels in English North Sea waters.

Mark Spencer: Defra is presently preparing its response to the public consultation on the future management of sandeels in English waters of the North Sea. I am grateful to everyone who responded. A summary of responses is here: Summary of responses - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). I will announce my decision shortly.

Sustainable Farming Incentive

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the progress of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Mark Spencer: Over 8,500 farmers have applied to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and more than 6,000 agreement offers have been issued. On 4 January updated payment rates were announced, with the average value of an SFI agreement increasing by 10%. Around 50 new paid-for actions will be added to the SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes from summer 2024, giving farmers more choice and an offer for all farm types and locations. From this summer, farmers will be able to apply for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and SFI actions through a single application process, making it easier for farmers and land managers to see what is available to them and access the funding in a more straightforward way.

Livestock: Transport

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to support abattoirs to ensure animals' journey times to slaughter are minimised; and whether he is taking steps to help improve transport conditions for animals when they undertake a journey.

Mark Spencer: In line with our aim to support the highest standards of animal welfare, the Government launched the Smaller Abattoir Fund on 13 December 2023 to provide £4 million in grant funding to support smaller abattoirs, with one of the fund’s aims being to help preserve a sustainable network of local smaller abattoirs, which will in turn help maintain reduced journey times to slaughter for livestock. The Government is also banning export journeys to slaughter through the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which is progressing through Parliament. We have consulted on a number of improvements to welfare in transport, such as maximum journey times, space allowances and temperature ranges. We published the summary of responses and Government response to this consultation in August 2021. We have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders across all sectors on the next steps.

Offences against Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child adopting General Comment 26, what steps he plans to take to incorporate into UK law Article 19 on the Right to freedom from all forms of violence including protecting children from exposure to violence inflicted on animals.

Mark Spencer: The Government recognises the psychological harm that encountering animal cruelty content online can have on children. Content that depicts real or realistic serious violence or injury against an animal has been listed as ‘priority’ content that is harmful to children in the Online Safety Act. Services will be required to assess the nature and level of risk of children encountering this kind of content on their service, and then take an age-appropriate approach to protect children from encountering it. Companies must also ensure that users, including children and their parents and carers, are able to easily access reporting mechanisms to report content and activity that is harmful to children. Platforms should respond quickly and effectively to protect users and other affected persons, which could include the removal of harmful content and sanctions against offending users.

Chemicals

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Chemicals Strategy.

Robbie Moore: Our strategy for chemicals is under careful consideration and will be relayed this  year.

Department of Health and Social Care

Dementia: Continuing Care

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to help support people with dementia to complete the NHS continuing healthcare application.

Helen Whately: People who may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) should be referred for a screening and assessment process as appropriate by a health or social care professional. The process is undertaken by the integrated care board and should follow a person-centred approach, placing the individual at the centre of the assessment and care-planning process. Someone with specialist knowledge of their condition should also be involved in the assessment process. Eligibility for CHC is not determined by age, diagnosis or condition, or financial means.Individuals who are being considered for CHC should be provided with a copy of the public information leaflet along with relevant contact details and information about local processes. NHS England has also commissioned Beacon to provide independent and high-quality support for individuals and their families. A copy of the leaflet is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care-public-information-leaflet/public-information-leaflet-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care--2

Tumor-induced Osteomalacia

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis rate and (b) management of Tumour Induced Osteomalacia.

Andrew Stephenson: While the Department is not taking steps to ensure early diagnosis of tumour induced osteomalacia specifically, the 2021 UK Rare Diseases Framework aims to improve the awareness of all rare diseases which includes this condition. England’s second Rare Diseases Action Plan, published in February 2023, reports on progress made to help patients get a final diagnosis faster and outlines new actions such as commissioning research on how best to measure the diagnostic odyssey.The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to carry out a single technology appraisal of burosumab for treating FGF23-related hypophosphataemia in tumour-induced osteomalacia, but the company was not in a position to apply for a marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for this indication and so assessment has been suspended.

Meat Products: Preservatives

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the EU Commission’s decision to lower the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products; and whether she plans to bring in such restrictions.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential health benefits of lowering the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products.

Andrea Leadsom: The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which holds policy responsibility for the safety of food additives, is assessing the impact of the new European Union decision. Nitrates are important additives that perform a range of technological functions, including control of microorganisms such as the pathogen Clostridium botulinum which is responsible for botulism, an often fatal condition. The FSA would wish to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences related to lowering nitrate/nitrite levels before considering next steps.

NHS: Finance

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the amount of ringfenced NHS dental funding that Integrated Care Boards have released to non-dentistry budgets to cover costs associated with strike action in the NHS in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Andrea Leadsom: NHS England provided guidance for integrated care boards (ICBs) that requires dental allocations to be ringfenced in 2023/24, with any unused resources re-directed to improve National Health Service dental access in the first instance and not spent on other services. In November 2023, NHS England confirmed that where ICBs had not spent all of their allocation on improving access to dentistry, they would be able to retain any underspend and use this to balance their bottom line and any other pressures. ICBs will decide how to use any forecast underspend in line with this guidance. We are currently considering arrangements for 2024/25.There are no current estimates of how much dental ringfence NHS dental funding has been used to support costs associated with strike action. NHS England has issued additional funding to systems of £800 million so far in this financial year to directly cover the costs of strikes.

NHS: Protective Clothing

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment criteria her Department used when awarding a contract for supply of PPE to ILC UK Ltd in 2020.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Protective Clothing

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department investigated the alleged leaking of confidential information to companies bidding for PPE contracts in 2020.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of dentists that advertise NHS services but are not able to provide them due to (a) levels of staffing and (b) financial reasons.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bereavement Counselling: Standards

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2023 to Question 5140 on Miscarriage: Bereavement Counselling, how many of the National Health Service trusts that have committed to adopting the National Bereavement Care Pathway standards have fully implemented them; and what criteria will be used to monitor the compliance of those trusts with those standards.

Maria Caulfield: The development, implementation and assessment of uptake of the National Bereavement Care Pathway is led by the Stillbirths and Neonatal Death charity (SANDS) which has developed and rolled out these pathway standards. As of January 2023, 108, or 84% of, National Health Service trusts had committed to adopting and implementing the standards of the National Bereavement Care Pathway. SANDS continues to encourage and support the adoption of the pathway within NHS trusts and monitor its uptake. The adoption of the pathway is not mandated by NHS England, and NHS England does not assess or monitor compliance.

Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to engage with accredited (a) counsellors and (b) psychotherapists to reduce waiting times for mental health services.

Maria Caulfield: To deliver the mental health commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan and help reduce waiting times, our aim is to grow the mental health workforce nationally by an additional 27,000 professionals by March 2024.Accredited counsellors and psychotherapists constitute a significant proportion of the NHS Talking Therapies workforce. A collaborative campaign to encourage accredited counsellors and psychotherapists to apply to work in NHS Talking Therapies services has been developed by NHS England with several of the counselling and psychotherapy professional bodies. These professionals are a vital part of our mental health workforce and are fully integrated within it, delivering National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended psychological therapies for depression.

Measles: Vaccination

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve vaccination rates for measles for children in England.

Maria Caulfield: The UK Health Security Agency is working closely with NHS England as well as the Department and wider health system partners at the national regional and local levels to improve uptake of the routine childhood immunisations and catch-up children who missed out. Increasing uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to achieve the World Health Organisation target of 95% uptake by the time children reach five years old is a key priority for the National Health Service and a clear commitment in its Long Term Plan. The NHS is expanding the national invite reminders scheme, starting in the next few weeks, by inviting those aged between six and 11 years old who are missing a first or second MMR vaccination. During February 2024 to the end of March 2024 we will be inviting approximately one million children via their parents and guardians.

Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates: Regulation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken to engage with the medical and surgical colleges on the proposed regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates.

Andrew Stephenson: The regulation of anaesthesia associates (AAs) and physician associates (PAs) has been subject to extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation over several years. Officials have corresponded with the Faculty of PAs at the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, along with other royal colleges and professional organisations, throughout the development of the policy and the legislation which will bring the roles into regulation.This engagement has been crucial in shaping our policy intent and the legislative drafting, to ensure that the resultant legislation is pragmatic and will benefit patient safety and registrants. We will monitor the impact of the legislation to ensure that it continues to best serve the interests of patients and the public, as well as the regulators and their registrants. We will actively seek feedback from the royal colleges and professional bodies.

Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will conduct a review of the competencies of (a) anaesthesia associates and (b) physician associates, in the context of the clarification of the different competencies of registered doctors.

Andrew Stephenson: Anaesthesia associates (AA) and physician associates (PA) play an important role in multidisciplinary teams and complement the work of doctors. On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, will empower the General Medical Council (GMC) to commence regulation for the two roles from December 2024.Regulation will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for clinical practice and professional conduct, to enable these roles to make a greater contribution to patient care. NHS England has worked with royal colleges and the GMC to develop appropriate curricula, core capability and career frameworks, standards for continued professional development, assessment and appraisal and supervision guidance for the AA and PA roles.NHS England continues to work with partners, including the GMC and medical royal colleges, to ensure that AAs and PAs can be effectively trained and integrated into teams across a range of specialties through the ongoing development of national standards, a defined scope of practice, and assessment of educational capacity.

Health Professions: Regulation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of having a single regulator with different registers.

Andrew Stephenson: In 2021, the Government commissioned a review of the number of healthcare regulators, considering whether opportunities exist for simplifying the regulatory landscape. There are no current plans to reduce the number of healthcare professional regulators, but the government is committed to reforming the system of regulation for healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom, making it faster, more flexible and less adversarial for registrants.A modernised regulatory framework is being introduced firstly for anaesthesia associates and physician associates. The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, laid on 13 December 2023, allows for the statutory regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates by the General Medical Council under the new framework. The reformed regulatory framework will be rolled out to doctors, and to the professions regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council over the next couple of years.

Health Professions: Regulation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how she plans to review the effectiveness of changes to statutory regulations of healthcare professionals.

Andrew Stephenson: The effectiveness of changes to statutory regulation of healthcare professionals will be reviewed once they come into force. The Department will engage with regulators to ensure their reformed legislation provides an improved framework to effectively regulate healthcare professionals.

X-linked Hypophosphatemia

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of X-linked hypophosphatemia.

Andrew Stephenson: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England for hypophosphataemia is currently included in the National Genomic Test Directory under the clinical indication labelled R154. X-linked hypophosphatemia is one of 200 treatable rare conditions being included in the Generation Study, a landmark research study which will sequence the whole genomes of 100,000 newborn babies being led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS.The study will evaluate the utility and feasibility of using whole genome sequencing to screen newborn babies for a larger number of childhood-onset rare genetic conditions in the NHS, with a decision whether this should be rolled out now or in the future based on the relevant evidence.National Genomics Education has also developed GeNotes, which puts innovative educational resources on genomics and rare diseases at the fingertips of healthcare professionals. GeNotes includes information on hypophosphatemia to support healthcare professionals to identify and manage forms of hypophosphatemia such as X-linked hypophosphatemia.Burosumab is now recommended and available on the NHS for treating X-linked hypophosphataemia in children and young people who are still growing. This novel treatment addresses the underlying problem, rather than compensating for phosphate loss, so is effective in helping children to grow normally.

Health Professions: Registration

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential role of non-fungible tokens in the issuing of professional certificates on health and care professional registers.

Andrew Stephenson: No specific assessment has been made.

Diabetes: Medical Treatments

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking with (a) the NHS, (b) community organisations and (c) health experts to help tackle inequalities in the treatment of diabetes.

Andrew Stephenson: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for improving the health of their populations, including the planning and delivery of diabetes clinical services and addressing health inequalities. The national NHS Diabetes Programme (NDP) develops policies and provides leadership and support to ICBs to improve diabetes care and outcomes.The NDP ensures local health care systems can identify inequalities in diabetes care and outcomes through National Diabetes Audit data that contains demographic information such as age, deprivation, ethnicity. The NDP allocates funding to support the costs of diabetes clinical lead posts in local health systems, with a key priority to supporting improvement in addressing health inequalities at the local level.

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the potential cost of Kaftrio for the NHS, in the context of the cost of Kaftrio in the EU market.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the use of Kaftrio in the NHS.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops recommendations on whether medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources at the price proposed by the company. Companies can agree discounts on the price of medicines in the context of the NICE evaluation process.NICE is currently developing guidance for the NHS on the clinical and cost effectiveness of Kaftrio and other cystic fibrosis medicines, and recently consulted on its draft recommendations. Kaftrio is currently available as a treatment option for eligible NHS patients under the terms of an interim access agreement, which was originally reached in 2019.

Drugs: Cost Benefit Analysis

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the adoption of a discount rate of 1.5% when assessing the future (a) benefits and (b) costs of medicines to align with the guidance set out in the Green Book.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has had a number of discussions with HM Treasury and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about the discount rate used in the evaluation of medicines, including as part of the 2022 review of NICE’s methods and processes for health technology evaluation.Through the methods review, NICE concluded that it was appropriate to maintain the reference case discount rate of 3.5% and has retained the flexibility in its methods for its committees to apply a lower non-reference case discount rate of 1.5% per year for both cost and health effects in exceptional circumstances. The decision on whether a non-reference case discount rate should be applied is taken by NICE’s Appraisal Committees.

X-linked Hypophosphatemia: Medical Treatments

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had discussions with NICE on their decision not to recommend using burosumab in the treatment of (a) X-linked hypophosphatemia and (b) related disorders in adults.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department has had no discussions with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regarding burosumab. NICE is an independent body and its recommendations are developed in accordance with its published methods and processes.NICE has not yet published final guidance on the use of burosumab for the treatment of X-linked hypophosphataemia in adults. NICE’s draft guidance was recently subject to a public consultation and NICE will take the comments received fully into account in developing its final recommendations.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gaza: Food Supply

Dan Carden: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Report on Gaza, published 21 December 2023, what assessment he has made of (a) the risk of famine in that region and (b) the potential implications for his policies.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: According to the World Food Programme (WFP), nine out of every 10 Palestinians in northern Gaza may be eating less than one meal a day. The situation is desperate - and projected to get worse. What matters is simple: more aid delivered by land, more quickly and more effectively. We have already supported the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza, with 750 metric tons of life-saving food aid arriving in the first delivery. The Foreign Secretary continues to discuss and press for the action that needs to be taken to increase aid to Gaza in his regular calls with his Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, US and Palestinian Authority counterparts. As he has outlined, Israel must take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.

Gaza: Israel

Mark Logan: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the Government is taking steps to assess the level of compliance with international humanitarian law of Israel’s recent actions in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Israel has endured the worst terrorist attack in its history at the hands of Hamas. We support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We keep under continuous review whether they are abiding by their obligations. We continue to call for IHL to be respected and civilians to be protected.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help (a) reduce violence and (b) de-escalate the situation in Sudan.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is working with a range of partners, including from Quad (Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), US, UK), African and European countries, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the UN, to advocate for ceasefire, to commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process and to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian access. Most recently, the UK played a leading role in gaining consensus for a UN Security Council press statement published on 22 December, calling on both warring parties to cease hostilities immediately and condemning ongoing attacks against civilians in Wad Medani. On 30 November, I published a Written Ministerial Statement, highlighting the UK's overall efforts to bring peace to Sudan.

Israel: Gaza

Andy McDonald: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the comments on imposing a complete siege on Gaza by Israeli Defence Minister on 9 October 2023.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law and there must be a reduction in civilian casualties. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. The UK trebled our aid commitment this financial year and is doing everything it can to get more aid in and open more crossings. Israel must now take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.

Gaza: Israel

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the Israeli Ambassador on her comments during a radio interview with LBC regarding the extent of the Israeli operation in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We continue to engage closely and regularly with a range of senior Israeli officials. We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected and civilians to be protected. There must be a reduction in civilian casualties. Israel must act within IHL and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Gaza: Israel

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the South African application to the International Court of Justice on Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: In terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach. It is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocideUltimately, it is for the courts to decide on matters of genocide, not for states. We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice.

Nigeria: Christianity

Patrick Grady: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with counterparts in Nigeria on violent persecution of Christians in that country.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Rising insecurity in Nigeria has affected all faith and non-faith communities, including Christians. UK Government officials and I (Minister Mitchell) regularly raise Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), including the impact of insecurity on communities and the need to bring perpetrators to justice, with the Nigerian Government. In August 2023, the former Foreign Secretary discussed insecurity with President Tinubu and the National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu. In January 2024, the British High Commissioner raised the recent attacks in Plateau with the Nigerian National Security Adviser. Across Nigeria, the High Commissioner and his team work closely with the authorities, local communities and faith leaders to raise and address these issues, including through engagement with the Nigeria Governors' Forum, National Peace Committee and National Human Rights Commission.

Nigeria: Religious Freedom

Patrick Grady: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what support his Department is providing to organisations promoting freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Rising insecurity in Nigeria has affected all faith and non-faith communities, including Christians. UK Government officials and I regularly raise freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), including the impact of insecurity on communities and the need to bring perpetrators to justice, with the Nigerian Government. The UK supports Nigeria to deliver on its constitutional commitment to FoRB through our development programming and security cooperation. We have funded peacebuilding projects to build dialogue between religious groups and, through the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme, will help Nigeria to tackle the causes of intercommunal conflict.

Sudan: Refugees

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to help support refugees from Sudan.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is working with the UN, other donors and humanitarian agencies to coordinate the effective delivery of aid to Sudan, including to support over 7.4 million people who have been displaced by the conflict. Since 15 April, over 1.5 million people are estimated to have fled Sudan to neighbouring countries since fighting broke out. We are helping those fleeing Sudan to neighbouring countries, with £7.75 million to South Sudan. This includes a £3.5 million allocation for food security in the Maban refugee camps, and £15 million to Chad.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to help secure a peace agreement in Sudan.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK continues to work with international partners, including The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the UN, to bring the warring parties together and secure an end to hostilities. We welcome the mediation efforts of IGAD, including the Extraordinary Assembly of Heads of State & Government on Sudan in Djibouti where regional leaders and international representatives called for an unconditional ceasefire and a one-to-one meeting between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) General Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Hemedti. We also welcome the meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the end of October of a broad group of Sudanese civilian actors and stakeholders. This is as an important step towards the formation of a genuinely inclusive and representative pro-democracy civilian front.

Gaza: Migrant Camps

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to help prevent the spread of disease in refugee camps in Gaza.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: FCDO Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Health Organisation on the health situation in Gaza. We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and have been delivering life saving supplies for Gaza, including medical items and supporting partners working in the health sector. The UK has also funded an experienced epidemiologist who is assisting UNRWA on disease surveillance.

Israel: Gaza

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2024 to Question 8588 on Israel: Gaza, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the speech by the Israeli Prime Minister on 28 October 2023.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We recognise Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but we have been clear that there must be a reduction in civilian casualties. Israel must act within International Humanitarian Law and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Developing Countries: Vaccination

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will meet with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to discuss UK support for global child vaccination.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials are in regular contact with Gavi and sit on the Gavi Board & Committees. I [Minister Mitchell], last wrote to Gavi's interim-CEO in December 2023. We welcome the Gavi Board's decision to appoint Dr Sania Nishtar as Gavi's new CEO. I will meet with her once she takes up post in March 2024.

Kurds: Foreign Relations

Wayne David: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs will meet the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

David Rutley: The Foreign Secretary met with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Iran: Kurds

Wayne David: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will raise the missile attack by Iran on Iraqi Kurdistan on 15 January 2023 at the United Nations Security Council.

David Rutley: We stand with the Kurdistan Regional Government in condemning these attacks and will continue to support the sovereignty and security of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. We continue to work together with international partners on this to agree the best way forward to deal with Iran's destabilising activities across the region. A decision on whether to raise this at the United Nations Security Council will be made in due course.

Israel: Gaza

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2024 to Question 8588 on Israel: Gaza, what assessment he has made of the relevance to the case brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice by the Republic of South Africa of the speech by the Israeli Prime Minister on 28 October 2023.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Our position on this is clear: Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach. It is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide. Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on matters of genocide, not for states. We respect the role and independence of the ICJ.

Department for Business and Trade

Department for Business and Trade: Feltham and Heston

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) schemes and (b) grants their Department administers that are open for (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency to apply for as of 10 January 2024.

Kevin Hollinrake: My Department provides extensive support. Key schemes include Help to Grow: Management, the Automotive Transformation Fund and the Energy Intensive Industries Scheme.The Government works with the British Business Bank to help SMEs access finance and the Recovery Loan Scheme helps businesses access loans and other kinds of finance. SMEs can also access guidance via the free Business Support Helpline and in England from the network of Growth Hubs.These are some of the most relevant schemes. Interested parties may find it helpful to access the developing ‘Find a Grant’ website https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/ (more grants are being added all the time).

Mrs Wordsmith: Future Fund

Dame Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Future Fund provided funds to Mrs Wordsmith; and how much those funds were.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Department is unable to provide information relating to loan amounts for individual companies as this information is commercially sensitive for both investors and investee businesses.

New Craftsmen: Future Fund

Dame Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding The New Craftsmen Ltd received from the Future Fund; and on what dates it received that funding.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Department is unable to provide information relating to loan amounts for individual companies as this information is commercially sensitive for both investors and investee businesses.

Fireworks

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on how many occasions her Department has has discussions with members of the public on the impact of the use of fireworks in the last 12 months.

Kevin Hollinrake: We do not hold a full list of how many times the Department has met with members of the public to discuss fireworks. However, the Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders, to listen to and understand their views on the impact of the use of fireworks. This includes both in person but also through regular correspondence.Our engagement includes, but is not exclusive to, trade associations, animal welfare organisations, the industry, members of the public, Parliamentarians, and other government departments.

Department for Work and Pensions

Household Support Fund: Pensioners

Andrew Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the Household Support Fund on low-income pensioner households.

Jo Churchill: The current Household Support Fund runs from April 2023 until the end of March 2024. The government continues to keep all its existing programmes under review in the usual way.

Food Poverty

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the report entitled Without access to justice published by Feeding Liverpool and the University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice in January 2024.

Jo Churchill: No assessment has been made. The Department continues to monitor the impact of its policies and keeps them under review.

Household Support Fund

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future of the Household Support Fund after March 2024.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2023 to Question 3412 on the Household Support Fund, when he expects a further decision on the future of the fund to be taken.

Jo Churchill: The current Household Support Fund runs until the end of March 2024, and the government continues to keep all its existing programmes under review in the usual way. We have regular conversations with the Treasury about a range of issues relevant to the work of the Department.

Universal Credit: Farmers

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the financial impact of moving from Working Tax Credits to Universal Credit on recipient farmers.

Jo Churchill: No recent assessment has been made.

Health and Safety: Regulation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Paul Maynard: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out the approach necessary to ensure the safety of people working at height. They place clear responsibilities on employers and those in control of any work at height to prevent falls by making sure work is properly planned, supervised, and undertaken by competent people. This includes using the right type of equipment including, where suitable, ladders. In 2022/23, 40 fatal injuries were due to falls from a height accounting for 30% of all worker deaths1 over the year. The level of fatality and major injury arising from falls is still high so there is an ongoing need for the regulations to focus attention on the issue. Following the announcement of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, Heath and Safety engagement with industry groups and trade organisations demonstrated extensive support to retain the Work at Height Regulations. The Regulations are well embedded in the health and safety framework and recognised as a key instrument in ensuring effective workplace health and safety standards. 1Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2023 (hse.gov.uk)

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using alternative methods of calculating monthly Universal Credit rates for self-employed recipients with seasonal income and expenditure patterns.

Jo Churchill: No assessment has been made.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using annual income as the basis for Universal Credit rates for self-employed recipients with seasonal income and expenditurepatterns.

Jo Churchill: No assessment has been made.

Home Office

Asylum: Bibby Stockholm

Kim Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which sub-contractors are providing (a) security and (b) welfare services to people accommodated on the Bibby Stockholm.

Tom Pursglove: Corporate Travel Management (CTM) is responsible for managing the services on the barge. CTM, who managed two Scottish vessels used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, has a strong track record of providing this kind of accommodation, and we are confident that they have the ability to manage the vessel and its supporting services. CTM has worked closely and successfully with local authorities and other public and voluntary organisations in Scotland.

Migrant Workers: Visas

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an estimate of the number of individuals working in roles on the occupation shortage list that will be potentially impacted by changes to spouse visas.

Tom Pursglove: Those who are granted permission on the family immigration route and their sponsors may work in any sector. Therefore, no data is collected by the Home Office regarding the nature of their employment.

Abortion: Demonstrations

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had recent discussions with the providers of abortion services that are outside safe access zones and are affected by protesters.

Chris Philp: The Government has launched a public consultation on the non-statutory guidance for Safe Access Zones. This consultation is open to all interested parties who wish to make their views known, including abortion service providers and health professionals.The consultation will close at 11.59pm on 22 January 2024 and is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/abortion-clinic-safe-access-zones-non-statutory-guidance.As Home Secretary, I am committed to ensuring that women in England and Wales feel safe and protected whilst exercising their legal right to access abortion services and I am confident that this guidance will support the effective introduction of Safe Access Zones.

Members: Correspondence

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to ensure that information on constituency cases provided to the offices of hon. and Rt hon. members is useful.

Chris Philp: Information provided to MPs on constituency cases is taken from case working systems, contributions from the relevant business area and agreed policy lines were applicable.We have a robust assurance process to ensure the quality of responses remains high.

Domestic Abuse: Victims

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure consistency of support across regions for victims of domestic violence.

Laura Farris: The Violence Against Women and Girls National Statement of Expectations sets out how local areas should commission effective services. It also aims to increase understanding of the need for specialist services and the value of those designed, and delivered by and for the users and communities they aim to serve (for example victims and survivors from ethnic minority backgrounds, deaf and disabled victims and survivors, and LGBT victims and survivors). The Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report on meeting the needs of victims across England and Wales has been useful in highlighting the importance of nationwide provision and specialist support. We have and will continue to use her findings in commissioning and funding decisions.The Domestic Abuse Act introduced a legal duty on Tier 1 local authorities to provide support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation, including refuges. Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities have allocated £127.3 million in 2023/24 to LAs to discharge this duty. Ministry of Justice is also this year (23/24) providing £21 million of ringfenced funding to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCS) for community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services. This is in addition to the ‘Core’ funding MoJ provides to PCCs to allocate at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need. In November 2023, we renewed the commitment to support victims of domestic abuse with a further £2 million investment into the Flexible Fund until March 2025, announced in the Autumn Statement. The Home Office Fund will enable direct payments to victims across England and Wales to help them flee abuse and re-establish long-term safety and independence and builds on a trial of the scheme in 2023.

Ministry of Defence

RFA Fort Victoria

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current status of RFA Fort Victoria is.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans for RFA Fort Victoria to participate in Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria is deployable as of 16 January 2024.

James Cartlidge: RFA Fort Victoria is currently in port ready to commence a planned maintenance period.  While we do not disclose the fine detail of forward availability forecasts to preserve the operational security of the Fleet, I can exceptionally confirm that RFA Fort Victoria was never tasked to participate in Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has taken steps to replenish the UK's uncrewed aerial system capacity in the context of such equipment having been sent in support of Ukraine.

James Cartlidge: The UK has procured a large amount of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) for Ukraine, including a limited number directly from the UK’s existing inventory, and orders have already bene placed for replenishment of certain gifted-in-kind systems. Due to operational security, we are unable to provide additional detail about specific UAS systems gifted or replenished. We remain committed to providing further UAS to Ukraine and the Prime Minister recently confirmed that, as part of the UK’s £2.5 billion funding to Ukraine for the coming year, £200 million would be earmarked for UAS.

Guided Weapons: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the in service date is for the air-launched variant of the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon.

James Cartlidge: The planning assumption for service entry for the maritime-launched Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon is 2028; a decision around which options, including off the shelf choices, should fulfil this requirement is ongoing, and will be confirmed in due course in the Full Business Case.

Guided Weapons: Testing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first test launch of the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon will take place.

James Cartlidge: The planning assumption for service entry for the air-launched Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon is 2030; a decision around which options, including off the shelf choices, should fulfil this requirement is ongoing, and will be confirmed in due course in the Full Business Case.

Ministry of Defence: Bullying and Harassment

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 8912 on Ministry of Defence: Bullying and Harassment, how many (a) bullying, (b) discrimination and (c) harassment complaints were recorded on MyHR in each year since 2019.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The below table shows the number of civilian complaints recorded as being received and resolved in each of the last five calendar years. Data from 2019-2021 is from the HRMS System. Data for 2022 and 2023 is from the MyHR System.  Complaint TypeCalendar YearBullyingHarassmentDiscriminationResolvedReceivedResolvedReceivedResolvedReceived201921202611Before 2022, ‘discrimination’ was not an explicitly defined category available for civilian data20202853331520211876674202272783319232023, up to 13 December 2023935666156 Before 2022, ‘discrimination’ was not an explicitly defined category available for civilian data, so it is not possible to be able to say which – if any – complaints were due to Discrimination. In the MyHR Data set, numbers are identified using the ‘Date from’ field.

Ajax Vehicles

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax hulls have been manufactured.

James Cartlidge: Since manufacturing began, 461 hulls have been delivered to General Dynamics Land Systems UK (GDUK).

Armed Forces: Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department holds on the number of compensation payments that have been awarded to families living in service accommodation in the last 12 months; and what the total value was of these payments each month.

James Cartlidge: Compensation payments are administered and funded by the suppliers at no cost to the Ministry of Defence. The table below shows the data the Department holds on the number of compensation payments that have been awarded to families living in Service Family Accommodation in the last 12 months and the total value for each month: MonthNumberValueJanuary 231703£186,031February 231,009£211,228March 232,995£285,314April 231,731£165,560May 233,865£225,907June 232,752£175,502July 232,742£159,832August 233,043£164,797September 232,007£134,234October 231,276£112,567November 231,950£236,170December 231,145£102,1931-17 January 24794£97,236Total27,012£2,256,571

Ministry of Defence: Fujitsu

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department uses equipment made by Fujitsu.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has any contracts with Fujitsu.

James Cartlidge: Yes, the Department uses equipment made by Fujitsu. However, the release of details on specific equipment would prejudice national security. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 January 2024 to Question 8351.Fujitsu Contracts (docx, 14.8KB)

Boxer Vehicles: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of when the first UK-built Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle will be delivered.

James Cartlidge: The first UK-built Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024.

Wildcat Helicopters

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeline is for fielding a tactical data link on the Army’s Wildcat helicopters.

James Cartlidge: Defence is currently working with the Platform Design Organisation (Leonardo Helicopters Ltd) to develop a TDL delivery programme for Wildcat, as part of the formal Concept and Assessment Phase. Further delivery dates are subject to approvals, with the Full Business Case expected to be submitted later this year.

Defence: Buildings

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2023 to Question 4359 on Defence: Buildings, in how many and what proportion of the 11,602 buildings for which a survey has been completed has RAAC been identified.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 October 2023 to Question 197591 to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Mr Luke Pollard)Defence: Buildings (docx, 15.1KB)

Red Sea: Shipping

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister during the oral statement on Defending the UK and Allies of 15 January 2024, Official Report, column 577, for what reason only forces from the UK and USA took part in the action in the Red Sea on 11 January 2024.

James Heappey: The UK and United States' military action on 12 January against Houthi targets was taken with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.Ten countries, including Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and Republic of Korea, signed a joint statement on the strikes, re-iterating to the Houthis that we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats.This followed a 3 January joint statement from by the UK, US and ten allies, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, calling for the immediate end to the Houthis' illegal activities.

Ministry of Defence: Sexual Offences

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 9109 on Ministry of Defence: Sexual Offences, how much has been paid by the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in (i) common law compensation claims that included an allegation of sexual abuse and (ii) out-of-court damages in each of the last five years.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 9109 common law compensation claims received since 2019 which have included an allegation of sexual assault or sexual abuse, have resulted in the damages payments below split by Service. The payments include damages paid on an interim basis for continuing claims and damages paid on full and final settlement basis. 2019 (a) Army - £826,610.68; (b) Royal Navy - £406,250.00; (c) RAF - £1,211,900.002020 (a) Army - £1,132,960.25; (b) Royal Navy - £415,180.00; (c) RAF - £1,350,000.002021 (a) Army - £163,500.00; (b) Royal Navy - £1,015,900.00; (c) RAF - £508,250.002022 (a) Army - £425,335.00; (b) Royal Navy - £720,513.58; (c) RAF - £50,500.002023 (a) Army - £110,000.00; (b) Royal Navy - Nil; (c) RAF – Nil Since all settlements were reached out of Court it is not possible to separate between the two categories (i) and (ii).

Ministry of Defence: Bullying and Harassment

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 8912 on Ministry of Defence: Bullying and Harassment, how many complaints are logged on the Defence Business Services case management system as bullying and harassment.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It is taking time to determine the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to her when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Ajax Vehicles

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Armoured Cavalry programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Protector programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Warrior Capability Sustainment programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Wedgetail programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the F-35 Lightning programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Crowsnest programme.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the Fleet Solid Support Ships programme.

James Cartlidge: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Questions. I will write to him and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 13 July 2020 to Question 68798 on Yemen: Military Intervention, whether his Department maintains its Tracker database of alleged instances of breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law.

James Heappey: Yes.

Military Bases: Heating

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many incidents relating to the loss of (a) heating and (b) hot water were reported at (i) HMS Raleigh, (ii) Commando Training Centre Lympstone, (iii) HMS Sultan, (iv) HMS Collingwood, (v) CHOM, YHOM, DOM and No1 Mess RAFC Cranwell, (vi) RAF Halton, (vii) Catterick Garrison, (viii) RAF Cosford and (ix) Stonehouse Barracks in the last 12 months.

James Cartlidge: The table below details the number of reported incidents relating to the loss of heating and hot water for buildings on each of the sites requested for the last twelve months to 16 January 2024. EstablishmentHeating onlyHot Water onlyHeating &  Hot Water combinedHMS RALEIGH16815318RM COMMANDO TRAINING CENTRE1291369HMS SULTAN27726419HMS COLLINGWOOD40529815RAF CRANWELL39576RAF HALTON18321845CATTERICK GARRISON66881978DCAE COSFORD47734151STONEHOUSE BARRACKS60472 Reported incidents include all repairs associated with heating and hot water and are not limited to total loss of heating or hot water. In line with the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Built Estates contract, contractors are obliged to respond to the loss of heating immediately to make buildings safe, and within 12 hours to restore functionality for certain asset types, including Single Living Accommodation. For less operationally critical buildings, functionality should be restored within five working days.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of trends in the level of (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the armed forces.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The current level of Armed Forces recruitment and retention is lower than we would wish, a challenge we face in common with our allies. Nevertheless, the Armed Forces continue to meet all their operational commitments. To address recruitment, a range of tangible short-term deliverables are being actioned to increasing the inflow into Armed Forces recruitment pipelines, all intended to increase the breadth of potential candidates and to drive efficiencies into recruitment systems. These ongoing and new initiatives are focused upon engaging the broad range of skills, experience and diversity needed to deliver that which our nation demands of our Armed Forces; and in the range of roles that are critical to enable this. On retention, in June 2023 we committed to implementing the recommendations of the Haythornthwaite Review, a generational independent review of how we retain our current people and attract new ones. Its recommendations relate to policies and processes across a complex system of incentivisation and support. A formal Government Response, which will provide more detail on our approach to tackling each recommendation, will be published in early 2024. This will confirm which recommendations have been - or are in the process of being – delivered. Other initiatives aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of our people include; Flexible Service, which introduces the potential for people to alter their career commitment for set periods of time, allowing more people to remain in the Armed Forces who may otherwise have decided to leave in order to meet competing demands and responsibilities; Wraparound Childcare, which Defence established in recognition of the importance of a robust childcare support system to enable the mobility, recruitment and retention of a Armed Forces personnel; acceptance of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s and Senior Salaries Review Body’s recommendations in full, ensuring that the overall remuneration package for Service personnel (which includes a good pension, subsidised accommodation, and a range of allowances on top of basic salary) remains competitive.

RFA Fort Victoria

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on the refit of RFA Fort Victoria in 2022.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid to Cammell Laird for the upkeep of RFA Fort Victoria since the end of the ship's refit period in 2022.

James Cartlidge: The approximate cost for refitting RFA FORT VICTORIA in 2022 was £18 million. The cost of work undertaken on the vessel since the completion of the refit in 2022 has amounted to approximately £2.3 million. The work has been undertaken by Cammell Laird at its shipyard in Birkenhead under the Future In-Service Support Contract.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January to Question 7776 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, how many serving personnel have been awarded a cash bounty for referring someone to join the (a) British Army and (b) Royal Navy.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 7776 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, how much funding have the (a) British Army and (b) Royal Navy allocated for bounty schemes for referring someone to join the Armed Forces.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 7776 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, when the Royal Navy began operating a cash bounty scheme to incentivise serving personnel to refer non-serving personnel to join the Armed Forces.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 7776 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, whether serving personnel in the (a) British Army receive a cash bounty for referring someone to join the Royal Navy and (b) Royal Navy receive a cash bounty for referring someone to join the British Army.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Royal Navy Recruitment Bounty Scheme began operating in October 2023 and will run until March 2025 with allocated funding of approximately £830,000. No payments have yet been made under the scheme but approximately 200 claims are under consideration. The Army Recruitment Bounty Scheme began operating in July 2023 and will run across two financial years with allocated funding of approximately £400,000.One payment has been made so far with approximately 200 under consideration. Each Bounty Scheme is restricted to its parent Service. Payments can be made once the candidate reaches attestation on an Initial or Basic Training Course.

Women and Equalities

Equal Pay: Ethnic Groups

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on tackling the ethnicity pay gap.

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to close the ethnicity pay gap beyond issuing guidance on ethnicity pay gap reporting.

Maria Caulfield: Our comprehensive guidance for employers on ethnicity pay reporting, published in April 2023, sets out best practice on measuring, analysing and reporting ethnicity pay gaps. Since publication, we have engaged with employers and employer representative bodies to promote the guidance and provide support. We are seeking case studies in order to identify and highlight examples of good practice. This work is part of our ambitious Inclusive Britain strategy, published in March 2022, which set out 74 bold actions to tackle entrenched ethnic disparities in employment, education, health and criminal justice. We also launched an Inclusion at Work Panel last year aimed at helping employers achieve fairness and inclusion in the workplace.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many purchases with a value of less than £500 were made against his Department’s budget using a Government procurement card (a) in calendar year 2022 and (b) from 1 January to 30 November 2023; and what was the total cost of those purchases.

Alex Burghart: For calendar year 2022, there were 7,358 transactions on the Government procurement card under £500 totalling £623.4k. For calendar year 2023, up to 30 November 2023, there were 6,792 transactions on the Government procurement card under £500 totalling £559.5k. I would note that procurement cards were introduced by the last Labour Government, who welcomed their use, saying they are a ‘good example of Government learning from the private sector’. Procurement cards assist with the reduction in procurement bureaucracy, boost efficiency, support the Government’s prompt payment initiative for Small and Medium businesses, and help maintain cash flow to suppliers. They are used as defined by the departmental procurement acquisition model, agreed by procurement and finance colleagues. Controls are in place that limit purchase types and values in line with individual departmental controls. Procurement cards are held by officials, not Ministers or Special Advisers.

UK Integrated Security Fund

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 22 December 2023 to Question 6924 on UK Integrated Security Fund, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the White Paper on International Development entitled, International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change, published November 2023, on the operation of the UK Integrated Security Fund.

Alex Burghart: The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) is designed to complement HMG Departmental activity, including on themes that are covered by the International Development White Paper, such as the impact of transnational threats, cyber-related issues and serious and organised crime. The White Paper sets out how development activity will continue to be an important tool for the UK to address security issues and to improve stability around the world. The ISF will expand upon the existing Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and will continue to deliver on fragile and conflict-affected locations as part of this overall effort to tackle some of the greatest threats to global development and to bolster UK security and resilience.

Civil Servants: Training

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of diversity and inclusion training programs in the civil service.

John Glen: The Civil Service has limited diversity and inclusion specific training. The current list of courses available through the cross Civil Service learning offer is listed below. This does not include training designed for departments and professions to meet specific needs or that which is purchased outside of the centrally managed contracts. Civil Service ExpectationsCollaborating effectively in cross-cultural teamsCreating an Inclusive CultureCreating Inclusive Virtual TeamsCreating Team InclusivityCultivating your Cultural IntelligenceDealing with Everyday RacismDisability inclusive managementIgnite inclusionInclusive leadershipLeading inclusive teamsManaging InclusionModern Leadership – skills for managing a diverse workforceNeurodiversity in the workplacePOC Managers Session 1: Leading inclusivelyPower of choiceRespect TrainingSexual HarassmentUnderstanding multiple perspectivesWorking with different cultures – a Managers Toolkit In May 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer commissioned a review of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion expenditure in the Civil Service. The review which included capturing spend on equality, diversity and inclusion training is now concluded and I am now engaging with the Cabinet Office who led the review, to determine next steps.

Homelessness

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Office for National Statistics not collecting mortality data for homeless people on the effectiveness of data the Government holds on homelessness.

John Glen: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th January is attached. UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 105.6KB)

Treasury

No-interest Loans Scheme: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 201259 on No-interest Loans Scheme: Northern Ireland, when he expects to see the results of the Fair4AllFinance pilot in Northern Ireland.

Bim Afolami: The government funded No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is being run by Fair4AllFinance, in conjunction with their partners. The pilot is designed to test the impact that NILS could have on addressing the needs of vulnerable consumers across the UK. Fair4All Finance have now rolled out the pilot in England, Scotland and Wales. The continued lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland is impacting the ability of Fair4All Finance to access lending capital to extend the pilot to Northern Ireland. Fair4All Finance continue to engage closely with stakeholders in an effort to deliver our shared ambition to launch a pilot site in Northern Ireland.

Woodford Investment Management

Ashley Dalton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential risk to the UK financial services industry of the Financial Conduct Authority investigation into the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund.

Bim Afolami: The FCA has been investigating the events leading to the suspension of the Woodford Equity Income Fund, as the independent regulator responsible for the supervision and regulation of conduct in financial services. While the Treasury continues to follow this case closely, it is the responsibility of the FCA to investigate and decide upon the appropriate course of action.

Trader Support Service: Costs

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of the Trader Support Service between August 2020 and January 2024.

Nigel Huddleston: Information about the costs of the Trader Support Service (TSS) is published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrcs-annual-report-and-accounts.

Treasury: Feltham and Heston

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) schemes and (b) grants their Department administers that are open for (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency to apply for as of 10 January 2024.

Gareth Davies: HM Treasury does not run schemes or grant programmes open to application by members of the public, organisations or other groups in the normal course of business, as these are managed by other departments across Government. As such, the department does not currently have any active schemes or grant programmes of this nature.

Treasury: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many purchases with a value of less than £500 were made against his Department’s budget using a Government procurement card (a) in calendar year 2022 and (b) from 1 January to 30 September 2023; and what was the total cost of those purchases.

Gareth Davies: Purchases over £500 are subject to Government transparency reporting. Procurement cards assist with the reduction in procurement bureaucracy, boost efficiency, support the Government’s prompt payment initiative for Small and Medium businesses, and help maintain cash flow to suppliers.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to establish a new compensation scheme for Equitable Life policyholders.

Bim Afolami: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016 and there are no plans to reopen any previous decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to accede to the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Julia Lopez: His Majesty’s Government announced the UK’s intention to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on 23 December 2023. The treaty papers were laid before Parliament on Thursday 11 January 2024. Parliament must approve the UK’s accession, and HM Government must then deposit relevant papers at UNESCO before the Convention can come into force.

Youth Services: Staff

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will develop a skills and workforce plan for youth services.

Stuart Andrew: The Government recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving the life chances and wellbeing of young people.While local authorities are responsible for delivering youth provision, the Government has worked closely with local authorities to update statutory guidance to support this delivery. The Government additionally provides significant funding to support youth services, with over £1.1 billion provided to the youth sector from DCMS In England between 2015 and 2021.Furthermore, over this Spending Review Period, DCMS is investing over £500 million in youth services to deliver the National Youth Guarantee, a government commitment that by 2025, every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer. This includes a significant number of interventions. For example, the Youth Investment Fund is delivering grants to build, renovate and expand youth centres, and the Million Hours Fund has created more than a million hours of youth activities in antisocial behaviour hotspots.

Youth Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) access to and (b) the location of youth services.

Stuart Andrew: The Government recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving the life chances and wellbeing of young people.While local authorities are responsible for ensuring young people can access youth services, the Government has worked closely with local authorities to update statutory guidance to support this delivery. The Government additionally provides significant funding to support youth services, with over £1.1 billion provided to the youth sector from DCMS In England between 2015 and 2021.Furthermore, over this Spending Review Period, DCMS is investing over £500 million in youth services to deliver the National Youth Guarantee, a government commitment that by 2025, every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer. This includes a significant number of interventions. For example, the Youth Investment Fund is delivering grants to build, renovate and expand youth centres, and the Million Hours Fund has created more than a million hours of youth activities in antisocial behaviour hotspots.

Youth Services: Buildings

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will review the youth services estate; and if she will fund repairs for that estate.

Stuart Andrew: The Government recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving the life chances and wellbeing of young people.While local authorities are responsible for delivering youth provision, the Government has worked closely with local authorities to update statutory guidance to support this delivery. The Government additionally provides significant funding to support youth services, with over £1.1 billion provided to the youth sector from DCMS In England between 2015 and 2021.Furthermore, over this Spending Review Period, DCMS is investing over £500 million in youth services to deliver the National Youth Guarantee, a government commitment that by 2025, every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer. This includes a significant number of interventions. For example, the Youth Investment Fund is delivering grants to build, renovate and expand youth centres, and the Million Hours Fund has created more than a million hours of youth activities in antisocial behaviour hotspots.

Youth Services

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of youth practitioners with youth work training that are required to ensure adequate provision of youth services by local authorities under Section 507B of the Education Act 1996.

Stuart Andrew: Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. The appropriate number of trained youth practitioners required for local authorities to meet this duty will depend on the area and the needs of the young people in that area. It is for each local authority to decide what is sufficient provision.

Department for Education

Children in Care: Blackpool South

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children from Blackpool South constituency are placed (a) outside and (b) 20 miles or more from the local authority area.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many care experienced 16 and 17 year olds have been placed in unregistered accommodation in Blackpool South constituency.

David Johnston: The department does not collect this data by Parliamentary constituency area.The latest information on placements for looked after children, relating to the year ending 31 March 2023, was published on 16 November 2023 in the annual statistical release ‘Children looked after in England including adoptions’, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions.

Special Educational Needs: Blackpool South

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the average waiting time for an EHC Plan in Blackpool South constituency.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of education, health and care plans are issued outside the 20 week timeframe in Blackpool South constituency.

David Johnston: The department publishes annual data on the number and proportion of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans issued within 20 weeks, in each calendar year, excluding exceptions at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans.EHC plans are administered at the local authority level and therefore figures are not available for Parliamentary constituencies. The department does not collect data on the average time taken.

Special Educational Needs: West Sussex

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's expected timeline is for determining the location of the new primary SEND school in West Sussex .

David Johnston: The department is currently pursuing negotiations with West Sussex County Council for the department’s preferred location for the new special school, in West Durrington. Subject to this agreement, the department will be in a position to begin the process of acquiring the site. The department will ensure that the project director continues to keep my hon. Friend, the member for Worthing West updated as things progress.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) construction, (b) demolition and (c) reconstruction of buildings constructed by Caledonian Modular at (i) Haygrove School, (ii) Sir Frederick Gibberd College and (iii) Buckton Fields Primary School.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost to the public purse of construction, demolition and reconstruction of school buildings constructed by Caledonian Modular and subsequently found to be structurally unsound.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has taken steps to recover costs incurred to the public purse as a result of poor workmanship in cases of school buildings constructed by Caledonian Modular that were found to be structurally unsound.

Damian Hinds: The department publishes contract values when available on Contracts Finder, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder. In addition, the department publishes capital costs for all free schools on GOV.UK once all works are completed and costs are finalised. Once at that point, the department will action this for these three schools and anticipates that may be some time in the future.The department is currently progressing a range of legal and contractual mechanisms for recovering costs.

Education and Skills Funding Agency: South Holland and the Deepings

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been allocated by the Education and Skills Funding Agency in South Holland and the Deepings constituency in each year since 2019.

Damian Hinds: The department is able to provide the schools National Funding Formula (NFF) allocations for schools in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency from the 2020/21 financial year. This covers mainstream schools funding only. The schools NFF determines school revenue funding for all mainstream schools in England, although schools’ actual allocations are based on local authorities’ local funding formulae. Constituency figures are based on an aggregate of schools’ NFF allocations.Pupil premium provides additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils. Allocations are calculated based on the number of eligible pupils in each school, and so, are also available at constituency level.South Holland and the Deepings’ NFF and pupil premium allocations can be found in the attached spreadsheet.Other funding allocations are not available broken down to the level of individual constituencies.9390 South Holland Deepings Funding (xlsx, 21.5KB)

Schools: Inspections

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 30 March 2023 to Question 174445 on Schools: Inspections, whether she has taken steps to prevent schools monitoring website traffic to predict the timing of an Ofsted inspection.

Damian Hinds: Ofsted has confirmed that it has made changes to its processes around how, and when, inspectors access school websites. It is also continuing to consider proportionate technical options to hide or disguise its access to school websites prior to an inspection.The department and Ofsted would urge schools not to use this kind of service. Schools do not need to take any extra steps to prepare for Ofsted inspections.

Pupils: Transgender People

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure schools provide a safe and supportive environment for transgender students.

Damian Hinds: The Secretary of State for Education has worked closely with the Minister for Women and Equalities on draft guidance for schools and colleges when a child is questioning their gender.On 19 December 2023, the department published the draft gender questioning guidance for schools and colleges. The consultation will remain open until 12 March 2024.The draft and the consultation document are available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/equalities-political-impartiality-anti-bullying-team/gender-questioning-children-proposed-guidance/.

Relationships and Sex Education

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the guidance entitled Introduction: Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health education, published in September 2021, on the effectiveness of RSE in schools.

Damian Hinds: The mentioned guidance is a section of the statutory Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education Guidance 2019, which is currently under review. The department will publish an amended draft for consultation at the earliest opportunity this year.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average funding allocation per pupil was in mainstream schools in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire in the 2023-24 financial year; and what the projected funding allocation per pupil in such schools is for the 2024-25 financial year.

Damian Hinds: Through the schools national funding formula (NFF), the department calculates and publishes notional funding allocations for each mainstream school. These are aggregated up at local authority level and, following an update in pupil numbers, are used to calculate each local authority’s dedicated school grant (DSG) allocations. Each local authority then determines individual schools’ final funding allocations through their own local formula.In 2023/24, through the DSG and Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG) combined, the average per-pupil funding for mainstream schools in Lincolnshire is £5,778. In 2024/25, through the DSG, the average per-pupil funding for Lincolnshire will be £5,904, a 2.2% increase from this current financial year. These are actual funding allocations.In 2024/25, based on the notional NFF allocations, South Holland and The Deepings’ average per-pupil funding will be £5,874, which is a 1.9% increase from the £5,766 they attracted through the NFF and MSAG combined in 2023/24. However, final allocations for South Holland and The Deepings will depend on the local authority’s local formula.The figures above do not include the additional funding the department is providing through the Teachers Pay Additional Grant, which is being provided on top of the DSG in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, or through other grants, such as the Pupil Premium.

Digital Technology: Training

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of digital skills training initiatives in bridging skills gaps in the technology sector.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve digital skills in underrepresented communities.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to expand digital literacy programs in (a) rural and (b) remote areas.

Robert Halfon: Digital and computing skills are critical to achieving the department’s science and technology superpower ambitions, which were set out in the UK Science & Technology Framework in March 2023. Programmers, data scientists, and software engineers will help deliver the department’s ambitions for critical technologies like artificial intelligence, but their importance is not limited to these technologies. These roles are fundamental across the labour market, with 60% of businesses believing their reliance on advanced digital skills will increase over the next five years.The importance of digital skills goes far beyond supporting specific growth industries. They are increasingly a foundation for the economy and society, as essential to employability and participation in society as English and mathematics. That is why the department has developed an ambitious skills agenda, backed by an additional £3.8 billion in further education and skills over the lifetime of this Parliament.The department’s essential digital skills offer plays an important role in both the wider department digital offer, which will equip people with the right digital skills to progress into rewarding careers or higher-level technical study, and the department’s wider support for the government’s new Digital Strategy, led out of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which sets out the vision for harnessing digital transformation, accelerating growth, and building a more inclusive, competitive and innovative digital economy for the future.Through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), the department has introduced a new legal entitlement in August 2020 to fully fund adults (19+) with low digital skills to undertake an Essential Digital Skills Qualification, up to Level 1. The department has further enhanced the offer by introducing Digital Functional Skills qualifications in August 2023. These qualifications were developed against employer supported National Standards and provide learners with the essential digital skills they need to participate actively in life, work and society.The department has also taken steps to embed essential digital skills training as part of study programmes for 16–19-year-olds. Where students are identified as having low levels of digital skills, education providers integrate essential digital skills development, where it is needed, into their learning programme.Formal qualifications are not appropriate for everyone, which is why the department also funds community learning and other non-regulated learning, such as building confidence in essential digital skills, through the AEB. Many local authorities and other further education providers are already delivering these courses that help equip adults with the essential digital skills they need for work, life and further learning.The department is investing in employer-led technical skills and education, with courses and training in digital subjects often at the forefront of our reforms, from digital literacy to skills for advanced digital roles. These are key in expanding our offer and providing alternative routes, as the department is aware that the traditional route does not suit everyone or every community. For example:Apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity for people to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to progress into digital occupations, and the department is increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25 to support employers of all sizes to grow their apprenticeships workforce. Employers in the digital sector have so far developed 30 high-quality digital apprenticeship standards across all levels in occupations such as Data Science, Cyber Security, Digital and Technology solutions and Artificial Intelligence. Digital Apprenticeships continue to grow with over 22,000 starts in 2022/23, an increase of 19% from the previous year.The department has also introduced 3 Digital T Levels, the gold-standard level 3 technical qualification designed with employers to meet industry standards and with a significant industry placement built in, to give that all-important experience of work within the digital sector. The department offers a number of mechanisms to evaluate T Levels including the Technical Education Learner Survey and regular engagement with providers and employers.Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, for adults aged 19 or over. There are now more than 1,000 Skills Bootcamps available across England, and the majority of Skills Bootcamps procured in the 2022/23 financial year were in digital skills. Skills Bootcamps in digital cover areas such as cyber security, coding, software development and engineering, data analysis and digital marketing.The most recent evaluation report for Bootcamps (Wave 2 implementation report), published in March 2023, has found that many participants felt that the training would allow them to ‘get a better life’, through improved job prospects and stability. A further release will be published in early 2024 covering completions and outcomes data for this cohort with the evaluation of the 2022/23 financial year delivery available at a later date.Launched in April 2021, the Free Courses for Jobs offer allows eligible adults to access over 400 Level 3 qualifications (A level equivalent) for free, including those linked with digital careers. These courses are ideal for those adults over 50 without a Level 3 qualification that are looking to improve their digital skills, retrain or upskill to meet their potential. Through the skills reforms, the department is continuing to ensure learners are supported, including those who need the most support, to train, retrain and upskill so they can climb the ladder of opportunity towards better jobs, better wellbeing and better options for the future.

Free School Meals

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the earned income threshold of £7,400 for universal credit claimants under the Free School Lunches and Milk, and School and Early Years Finance (Amendments Relating to Universal Credit) (England) Regulations 2018 on the number of children who will be eligible for free school meals in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the number of children who previously received but are no longer eligible for free school meals as a result of their households reaching a net earned income threshold of £7,400 per annum under Universal Credit at the point of claim as of 9 January 2024; and whether her Department holds data on families with multiple children in which one or more child qualifies for free school meals but not the others.

Damian Hinds: This government has extended eligibility for free school meals (FSM) several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, most notably through the introduction of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) FSM in 2014. The result of this is that over a third of pupils in England now receive free meals, compared with one in six in 2010.The department monitors data on the number of pupils who are eligible for FSM, including estimates for future years, but no formal assessment has been made on the number of children eligible for FSM in 2024 and 2025. The department publishes statistics annually which show that over 2 million pupils are currently eligible for FSM. This is an increase from 1.1 million eligible pupils in 2018, when extensive transitional protections were first introduced.Protections ensure that children in receipt of FSM will not lose access to this entitlement until at least March 2025, even if their household’s financial circumstances improve. The department does not plan to formally assess the number of children who would no longer be eligible for FSM, in the absence of the protections policy.The department has always been clear that a child is only eligible for FSM if their family meets the eligibility criteria at the point of applying for FSM. The result may be that in some cases for children in the same household, some may be eligible for FSM whilst others are not. The department does not plan to make an estimate of this figure.Further information is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics#dataBlock-2f5a67c4-6e66-414a-a926-f959d8b6443a-tables.

Further Education and Training

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) further education and (b) skills development in less economically productive regions.

Robert Halfon: This government has introduced long-term structural reforms and investment, which is designed to give people the skills they need to get good jobs and boost productivity across the country, including in less economically productive areas.Last year HM Treasury launched a public sector productivity review which found that the department has a crucial role to play in driving up productivity in the economy as a whole. Skills are responsible for a third of productivity growth between 2001 and 2019. As a result of its efforts to drive up education standards since 2010, the department has improved pupil and learner outcomes and thus contributed to wider productivity gains. The department also contributes to wider productivity in other ways, such as through support with childcare costs that helps new parents to take up jobs that fully utilise their skills. Moreover, the education sector is one of the UK’s largest construction customers, representing around 17% of total construction output.Last year, the government also published its Levelling Up White Paper aimed at tackling geographical inequality and skills gaps. The department’s skills mission is for 200,000 more people to successfully complete high-quality training each year in England by 2030, with 80,000 more in the lowest skilled areas. Achieving this will require strong and dynamic local leadership.The department has committed to devolving core adult education budget (AEB) to every new area of England that wants a devolution deal by 2030. The department has already devolved over 60% of the AEB to ten areas, with new deals agreed with a further eight areas. This enables devolved authorities to use the AEB to shape education and skills provision in a way that best fits the needs of their residents and local economy, including in disadvantaged areas.In summer 2023, 38 local skills improvement plans (LSIPs) were rolled out across all areas of the country. These employer-led, locally-owned plans have galvanised and brought together businesses, providers, local leaders and stakeholders everywhere, to help better align provision of post-16 technical education and training with local labour market needs.In disadvantaged areas and communities, LSIPs are also supporting the identification and removal of specific local barriers. For example, in some rural areas, the LSIP has reviewed ways that local and regional stakeholders can collaborate to leverage funding to help resolve the impact of a lack of accommodation and transport on the recruitment and retention of employees, tutors and students. The department has also made it clear in statutory guidance that LSIPs should add value to relevant local strategies and effectively join-up with other parts of the local skills system, including universal credit claimants via Job Centre Plus. This will mean that any new proposed skills provision is also suitable for people who may encounter additional barriers to gaining the skills needed to fill local job vacancies and ensure all learners are able to unlock their full potential and progress in work.The department has provided a £165 million local skills improvement fund to help respond to the skill needs identified in the LSIPs. LSIF funded projects will enable learners and employers across all areas of the country to access new innovative technology and industry standard teaching and facilities, with allocations to each area taking account of existing attainment and productivity levels. LSIF projects were announced in November 2023 and include training to plug key skills gaps identified by employers through the local skills improvement plans as priorities. Together, LSIPs and LSIF are a great tool to spread opportunity across the country and boost local economies to the benefit of all.The department has committed to supporting freeports in England, which are special areas within the UK’s borders where different economic regulations apply aimed at stimulating growth. The department will do this through establishing linkages between key partners and freeports to strengthen the skills offer available to freeports, championing joint working between freeports, local colleges and institutes of technology and raising the profile of freeports and investment zones, when established, with relevant provider sector bodies.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Artificial Intelligence: Elections

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Q811 of the oral evidence given by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on 13 December 2023, HC 38, what steps she is taking to work with social media companies to deploy tools to help protect democratic processes.

Saqib Bhatti: We are working extensively across Government to ensure we are ready to rapidly respond to any threats to our democratic processes, through our Defending Democracy Taskforce and dedicated government teams. The threat to democracy from AI was discussed at the AI Safety Summit in November 2023, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to international collaboration on this issue. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology works closely with social media platforms to encourage them to put in place policies that are fit for purpose, consistently enforced, and respect freedom of expression. Implementation of the Online Safety Act will make a significant difference here.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Bullying and Harassment

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to tackle (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) discrimination in (i) her Department and (ii) research and STEM workplaces.

Andrew Griffith: Bullying and harassment, of any type, is unacceptable and must be eliminated. DSIT provides a range of support to staff, such as access to Fair Treatment Ambassadors and its Employee Assistance Programme. UKRI convenes the sector Forum for Tackling Bullying and Harassment  which aims to tackle bullying and harassment in the research and innovation sector by driving culture and environmental change across the system.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many purchases with a value of less than £500 were made against her Department’s budget using a Government procurement card from 7 February to 31 December 2023; and what was the total cost of those purchases.

Andrew Griffith: Procurement cards assist with the reduction in procurement bureaucracy, boost efficiency, support the Government’s prompt payment initiative for Small and Medium businesses, and help maintain cash flow to suppliers. Procurement cards are used as defined by the departmental procurement acquisition model, agreed by procurement and finance colleagues. Controls are in place that limit purchase types and values in line with individual departmental controls. Procurement cards are held by officials, not Ministers or Special Advisers. 1) No. of transactions: 8272) Value: £59,209.04 This includes DSIT elements of BEIS.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many purchases with a value less than £500 were made against the budget of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy through a Government procurement card (a) in calendar year 2022 and (b) from 1 January to 7 February 2023; and what was the total cost of those purchases.

Andrew Griffith: Procurement cards assist with the reduction in procurement bureaucracy, boost efficiency, support the Government’s prompt payment initiative for Small and Medium businesses, and help maintain cash flow to suppliers. Procurement cards are used as defined by the departmental procurement acquisition model, agreed by procurement and finance colleagues. Controls are in place that limit purchase types and values in line with individual departmental controls. Procurement cards are held by officials, not Ministers or Special Advisers. Transactions less than £500 were as follows: Calendar Year 2022:1) No. of Transactions: 53402) Value: £302557.24 1st Jan 2023 to 7th Feb 2023(inc):1) No. of Transactions: 5822) Value: £42442.47

Animal Experiments

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help facilitate an increase in non-animal testing methods.

Andrew Griffith: The Government is committed to supporting the growth of technologies that support non-animal research. UK Research & Innovation funds the development of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs) through the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since it was established the NC3Rs has invested £89.3 million in research and £27 million in contracts through its CRACK IT Challenges scheme. UK law requires that animals are only used in science where there are no alternatives, where the number of animals used, and potential harm is the minimum needed to achieve scientific benefit.

Animal Experiments

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if her Department will take steps to create (a) partnerships and (b) collaborations with industry stakeholders to (i) establish best practice for and (ii) increase the uptake of non-animal testing.

Andrew Griffith: The Government is committed to supporting the growth of technologies that support non-animal research. UK Research & Innovation funds the development of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs) through the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since it was established the NC3Rs has invested £89.3 million in research and £27 million in contracts through its CRACK IT Challenges scheme.

Animal Experiments

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of establishing a cross-departmental roadmap to transition away from animal testing.

Andrew Griffith: The Government has no current plans to establish a cross-departmental roadmap. The Government supports advances in biomedical science to reduce the use of animals in research, including stem cell research, cell culture, imaging and computer modelling techniques. UK Research & Innovation funds the development of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs) through the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs). UK law requires that animals are only used in science where there are no alternatives, where the number of animals used, and potential harm is the minimum needed to achieve scientific benefit.

Broadband: Gower

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps her Department has taken to help improve broadband coverage in Gower constituency.

Julia Lopez: Almost 98% of premises in the Gower constituency can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps), in line with the national average of 97%. Over 69% of premises have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection, which is below the national average of 80%, but has increased significantly since January 2021, when coverage was under 25%. To improve coverage further, the Government is rolling out Project Gigabit, and we have launched procurements across the UK inviting suppliers to bid for contracts to bring gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses that are unlikely to be reached by broadband suppliers' commercial rollout plans alone. The Gower constituency is included in a cross regional procurement which launched last year, and we expect to award a contract this summer.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Feltham and Heston

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what (a) schemes and (b) grants their Department administers that are open for (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency to apply for as of 10 January 2024.

Andrew Griffith: DSIT publish all grants on www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk

Science and Technology: Migrant Workers

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the immigration system in meeting the objectives stated in the UK Science and Technology Framework, published on 6 March 2023.

Andrew Griffith: My Department is committed to ensuring that we continue to attract the best and brightest global talent, as set out in the Science & Technology Framework. The Government has made good progress in simplifying and launching new skilled visa routes, and the UK’s points-based immigration offer enables talented scientists, researchers and innovators to come to the UK through a number of visa routes. My Department will continue to work with the Home Office to ensure the immigration system meets the Government’s Science & Technology Superpower ambitions.

Research: Staff

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology,	with reference to page seven of her Department's policy paper entitled Research and development (R&D) people and culture strategy, published on 22 July 2021, what steps her Department is taking to encourage adoption of the Résumé for Researchers CV.

Andrew Griffith: The Résumé for Researchers CV (R4RI) is now being used in all funding opportunities that require track record information which run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

Innovate UK: Digme Fitness

Dame Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when Innovate UK provided funds to Digme Fitness; and how much those funds were.

Andrew Griffith: There is no record of the organisation Digme Fitness applying for, or being awarded, grant funding from Innovate UK.

Innovate UK: Study Hall

Dame Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when Innovate UK provided funds to Study Hall Ltd; and how much those funds were.

Andrew Griffith: Study Hall Ltd has been awarded two grants through the Innovate UK SMART grant competition. These projects were awarded funding of £349,976 and £349,972 and started in 2022 and 2023 respectively. All Innovate UK funding decisions are made through a rigorous and competitive transparent process by independent experts. Details of these grants are published on UKRI’s website (https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10035378; https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10061813).

Department for Transport

Transport

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence his Department had with (i) the Northern Ireland Office, (ii) the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure and (iii) Translink on the Union Connectivity Review Report between publication of that Report and the Government response.

Huw Merriman: As you will appreciate, most transport matters are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. The UK Government’s Transport Ministers engaged with their counterparts when the Northern Ireland Executive was in place. In the absence of an Executive, officials have continued to liaise regularly with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Translink on the recommendations made by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review. This resulted in the UK Government providing funding support for three rail connectivity studies in Northern Ireland. The Department for Transport also engaged regularly with the Northern Ireland Office at official and ministerial level to discuss UK connectivity matters.

Ministry of Justice

Defamation: Trials

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on libel cases of the decision of the High Court of Justice of Northern Ireland on Case 2024NIMaster1, delivered on 8 January 2024.

Mike Freer: The Government​​ has ​implemented reforms relating to strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs) in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, relating to matters engaging economic crime.We are committed to introducing targeted legislation to cover other forms of SLAPP litigation, to stop anyone from abusing our legal system and using improper means to intimidate those acting in the public interest.Reforms provide a statutory definition of SLAPPs, an early dismissal mechanism, and costs protection for SLAPPs cases. Our intention is that journalists subject to SLAPPs in future will benefit from costs protection (determined by the court), which will lessen legal and financial risks associated with lengthy proceedings.These reforms apply in England and Wales - justice is devolved in Northern Ireland, and any reforms relating to Northern Irish defamation law would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, which is currently undertaking a review of defamation law in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Office

Journalism: Northern Ireland

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing protections for journalists under libel defamation law in Northern Ireland.

Mr Steve Baker: The civil law of defamation is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland. As such, the development of, or any reform to, the law in this area is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly to consider.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount for winter 2024-25.

Amanda Solloway: From winter 2022 the Government extended the Warm Home Discount to support more households in fuel poverty, who have low incomes and live in homes that are costly to heat. This winter we lowered the threshold for a property to be considered costly to heat and we expect over 3 million households to receive the rebate, around a million more households compared with the previous scheme prior to winter 2022. As the scheme is funded by participating energy suppliers, we have struck a balance between supporting as many households as possible, providing meaningful support, and limiting the impact on wider consumer bills. Energy prices have significantly fallen in the past year. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.